KAAC election: Voting held; violence, poll ragging reported

Our Correspondent

Diphu, June 8 (EMN): Voting for the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), one of the 6th Scheduled Autonomous Council in Assam was held on Wednesday as 7,03,298 voters of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong exercised their franchise to elect their new Member of Autonomous Council (MAC).

The Chief Executive Member (CEM) of KAAC, Tuliram Ronghang, after casting his vote said that out of 26 seats, BJP will win 24, while two seats will be won by independent candidates.

On the other hand, All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC) candidate Bikrom Hanse, the rival candidate of CEM, informed of poll ragging in Bithung Rengthama.

There is total failure of district administration to handle the election process, he said. Bithung Rengthama MAC constituency has only two candidates — CEM Tuliram Ronghang and APHLC Bikrom Hanse — as the other candidates withdrew.

Hanse said, “One polling officer dragged my polling agent outside from the voting room. At Tumpreng, seeing a voter casting on the symbol of ‘Torchlight’, the election symbol of APHLC, the polling agent of BJP did not allow to cast the vote. At No.1 Karbi Rongsopi, Indra Nagar and Hanthor Arong polling stations, my polling agents were chased out from the voting room by BJP polling agents”.

In Bithung Rengthama, democracy is dead. It is ruled by one party system, Hanse added.  

At Daldali Garo Basti LP School under Dhansiri MAC constituency, it was alleged that somebody had taken away the stamp used for stamping the ballot paper. The voters, while speaking to media persons, alleged that the stamp went missing when BJP candidate Tilottama Hasnu came to visit the polling station.

Meanwhile at Dhenta Engti polling station under Langhin MAC constituency, voters alleged that a police personnel on duty with the district enforcement team reportedly asked the voters to vote for BJP as it is the same party that is in power in Kokrajhar.

The angry voters manhandled him (police personnel) by pulling him and demanded for his arrest. It was further alleged that the police personnel was drunk.

In Punja LP and ME school polling stations under Duar Amla MAC constituency, ballot boxes were thrown out and damaged, while ballot papers were burned by angry voters. The incident erupted as the stamp used for stamping the ballot paper went missing. After a few moments, a police personnel found the stamp inside the casting room.

The DC and SP of West Karbi Anglong reached the polling station to take stock of the situation, while a re-polling has been ordered.

Voters from Sotro village could not exercise their vote as their names were not found in the voter list at number 13 Langthat polling station under Kopili MAC constituency.

Secretary incharge of Propaganda, Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) Daniel Teron said the ASDC will play a major role in the formation of the next government at KAAC. He said, “Voting was not good for the voters of entire Karbi Anglong as the ruling BJP had been distributing money even in the queue at the various polling stations today. Things have gone wrong in Dhentaghat and Daldali”.

The United Democratic Front of Surupathar (UDFS) backed independent candidate, Simeon Rongphar said that in Surupathar the UDSF was going to win. The UDSF will be leading in 10 polling stations, he added.

Nilip Democratic Forum (NDF) backed independent candidate Avinash Ronghang said there were poll ragging in some polling stations. If there is no change of ballot boxes then NDF is sure to win in Nilip, he said.

Johnny Timung, the BJP candidate from Lumbajong MAC constituency, emphatically said that a win is 100%.

Votes from town areas will be garnered, but more votes will come from Langsoli-et, Borlangpher and Theso Ajur. Seeing the massive support in every polling station, there is clear indication of BJP wining from Lumbajong, Timmung said.

At the end of poll at 4:30 pm, the poll percentage in 10 MAC constituencies — Lumbajong, Dhansiri, Singhason, Langpher, Phuloni, Langhin, Korkhanti, Mahamaya, Nomati and Howraghat — was 79 percent.

There are 154 candidates in fray from 26 MAC constituencies spread in the two hill districts of Assam.

Voting started at 7:30 am. Ballot papers were used for voting as the use electronic voting machine was not enacted by the KAAC.